Combined radio and phonograph control system



May 6, 1941. R. H. MANsoN y COMBINED RADIO AND PHONOGRAPH CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NN, MN NN .WN

'a INVENTOR RAY H. MANsoN K ATTORNEY.

May 6, 1941. R. H. MANsoN COMBINED RADIO AND PHONOGRAPH CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 11, V1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a l: \a

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INVENTOR. RAY H.MANSON ATTORNEY.

Patented May 6, 1941 COMBINED RADIO AND PHONOGRAPH CONTROL SYSTEM Ray H. Manson, Rochester, N. Y., assigner toThe Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 11, 1938, Serial No. 213,238

This invention relates to program reproducing systems and more particularly to a system lncluding a combined phonograph Aand `a radio receiver in which system push buttons are utilized to switch into operation either the phonograph orthe radio receiver and to effect the tuning of the receiver to desired stations.

, While such radio-phonograph combinations have been arranged for operation by means o-f keys located thereat as well as by remotely located keys,such arrangements have been confusing to inexperienced operators, since it has been necessary to manipulate a plurality of keys in a given sequence to switch from one type of program reproduction to another. Also in former arrangements if -the radio receiver had been -controlled by the keys at a. remote point and it was desired to operate the radio receiver from the local keys, it was necessary to disable the remote keys. Thus in changing from direct to remote control operation of the radio receiver and vice versa it was frequently necessary to manipulate a plurality of keys or switches before the desired broadcast program could be received.

The present invention has for its purpose a combined radio receiving and phonographic system of the character described, in which but a single switching operation is necessary, not only for disabling the parts of the system unnecessary for any given control, but also for selectively operating the system to reproduce the desired program. The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the control portion of a combined radio receiver and phonograph system with local push button keys for selectively operating either thephonograph or the radio receiver, and with similar push button keys located at a remote point for effecting a similar selecting operation;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the control panel of the combined phonograph and radio receiver of this invention particularly illustrating the interlocking arrangement of the several keys there shown;

Fig. 3 is a detailed View of a push button key with the switching contacts controlled thereby as well as of a solenoid for effecting a supplemental operation of the key;

Fig. 4 is a schematic showing of a portion 'of the tuning circuits of a radio receiver to be controlled by the present arrangement, and

8 Claims. (Cl. 179-100.11)

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary schematic showing of a modified tuning arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates a fragment of a cabinet (Fig. 2) in which an automatic, record changing phonograph and a radio receiver chassis (not shown) are housed. In the front panel of this cabinet, there is mounted a dial 6 bearing legends and cooperating means (not shown) functioning in accordance with the well known practice to indicate on which of several frequency bands the radio receiver is operating and to indicate the tuning of the radio' receiving circuits. A plurality of push button keys including a phonograph selecting key l, eight station selecting keys 8 and an off key 9, project in a row or series from the portion of the panel above the dial. Each of these keys as illustrated in Fig. l comprises a push button lil carried by a springreturned, I depressible key stem II preferably formed from sheet metal and suitably mounted in a frame-work (not shown). Each key stern is provided in one of its edges with a notch or catch I2 located between adjacent inclined edge portions I3 and vHl of the stem one or both of which portions may be eiective to release a depressed key in the manner to be described. The keylvstems of the series ,extend through individual pairs of alined slots I5 suitably spaced in the anges I6 and Il of a channel-shaped locking bar I8, the slots in the ange I6 being of a length slightly greater than the maximum width of their related key stem-s. This bar is normally springurged toward the left, as viewed in Fig. l, but

when its flange I6 is engaged by the inclined portion I3 'of a key stem being depressed, the bar is forced toward thev right until the flange I6 snapsrover the catch l2 on the stem of the depressed key to hold this key in its depressed position.Y `From this construction it will be appreciated that the locking bar when moved toward the right, on the depression of a key, will latch this key in its depressed position but will release thel catch of any prior operated key so that its spring restores it to its normal outward position.

In addition to theupper series or row of keys, there is provided a second series or row of keys located below the dial. This second series of keys comprises a treble key I9, a bass key 20, and three band selecting keys 2|, 22 and 23. The treble key I9 serves to eiect the tone control adjustment of the radio receiver whereby the higher frequencies of any program being received, may be varied at the will of the operator,

Apiece electrically bridges the provided with a locking bar 24 which is similar.`

in construction and operation to that already described.

It should be pointed out that the 'treble and bass keys i9 and 20 are locked in' depressed condition in a different manner from the other keys in the two series and when depressed do not shift the locking bar 24 to release other keys. These two keys have two notches orratchet teeth 25r and 26 provided in their key stems, which teeth are adapted to be engaged respectivelyby dogs 2l pivotally mounted on the locking bar '24. By

` this construction three degrees of treble and bass `control can be effected. A pin 28 on the locking bar adjacent each dog is arranged to disengage its dog from the cooperating teethon the stem of its related key whenever the locking bar vis moved ,toward the right to its releasing position.

As shown in Fig 3, the `key stem of the phonograph key 1 and of the eight stations selecting keys B each carry a strip of insulation 29 on the respective ends of which there are mounted conducting pieces 30 and 3 I These conducting pieces are respectively located in operative relation to pairs of fixed contactors 32 and 33 of which vonly two pairs yare shown in Fig. 3. Y By this construction when one of vthese keys is in its normal or released position `the connections between the re.- spective pairs of fixed contactors are open, whereas, when the key is depressed, each conducting related pair orxed contactors.

, Theswitch controlled by the off key 3 dilers from the switching arrangement provided for the other keys, since a pin 34 lprojects from its key 1'- stem which pin is engaged `by a projection 35 on one contact spring of the pair 36. Itwill loe` ap preciated 1 that this switching arrangementv is shown merelyby way of example, since othertypes of switches of well known `construction can be actuated by the pin.

The locking bar24 as well as of the first-mentioned locking bar l8are sointer-related thatthe operation of one of these bars effectsy a like oper.- ation of the other. The construction ,forlaccomplishing this result is best shown in Fig. 2 whereby `the lockingbar I8 has pivotally connected to one of its ends a bell crank lever48 which is rrotatably mounted on a iixed'pivot 49. The free end of this lever is connected by a link to the corresponding end of a second bell crank lever 5I. Thisrsecond lever which also is mounted for rotation on the fixed pivot 52, has its other free end pivotally connected to the second locking bar 24.

The front panel 5 of the radio receiver as trated in Fig. 2 is also provided with yaY tuning knob 3l for adjusting thecommon tuning shaft 38 (indicated by dottedline in Fig. 4) of the radio receiver gang tuning condenser C-C to any desired station in the broadcast band. This ar- '-1.5 rangement is necessary since it will be understood that the eight tuning keys serve only to select eight favorite stations from the numerous stations Y available in this broadcast band. The front panel Aoi the radio receiver is also equippedwith a. secillus- -the radio-phonograph combination can be selectively controlled from a remote point such as that indicated diagrammatically at the right hand portion of'Fig. 1. At this remote station there are provided ten interlocking keys 42 corresponding 1 to and of `similar construction to the upper series of keys 1,' 8and '9 located at the radio receiver. These keys,`when fully depressed each operate a Vsolenoid associated with -a related key of the rst mentioned. series as will appear hereinafter. Howevensolenoids are unnecessary for operating keys 42 and Vtheir make contacts are closed only when the keys are fully depressed but are open whenthe .key is held in its locked position. In this 'arrangement the locking of a key in its partially depressed condition is merely for indication of the switching operation that has taken place at the radio phonograph combination. There are also provided at the remote station four nonlockingkeys 43. Two of these last-mentioned keys include a volume increase key 44 which closes 4a circuit for operating volume control motor 4| in a direction to increase the volume of the reproduced signal and a volume decrease key 45 which rotates the volume control motor in the ,reverse direction to diminish the volume. two remaining keys include the bass increase The key 46 which operates the solenoid associated with the bass compensationkey 2U at the radio receiver and the treble increase key 41 which operatesthe solenoid associated with the treble key I9 at the radio receiver.` It will be seen that when the bass and treble keys of the radio receiver tare operated .by the solenoids, no adjustment in 4the intermediate position of these keys can be Ieiected since the dogs of both of these keys will ,engage the uppermost notches on their key stems when depressed by the solenoids. n, lThe key stem of each of the keys o the first series as well aseach of the key stems of` the bass and treble keys, is connected to the longitudinally movable core 53 of a solenoid 54 so arranged that when the solenoid is energized electrically by depressing a related key 42, 46 or 41, itwill attract its core andthereby depress a givenrkey in the .same mannerk as `when the key is manually depressed by forcing its button inwardly.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated diagrammatically the band switching portion of a conventional ra- `dio receiver adapted to receive programs in standlardlziroadcast range as well as in the intermediate range and the short range. The intermediate frequency amplifier, the second detector and audio Vvportion of this receiver, as well as the loud speaker .have been omitted- In this showing, the ltuning .arrangement of the radio frequency stage RF, .the oscillator andautomatic frequency control unit and the tuning portion of the modulator are villustrated. lThethree band selecting keys 2|, 22 `and 23 have their fixed contacts-32 and 33 repre- I; sented by arrows and theirrespective movable contactors 30 and 3l by oblongs, vthe movable'co'nitactorsrbeing shown in the normal or released position of` these switches. -These three keys are differentfrom the key umstrated in Fig. sin that two or more movable contactors and 3.| may be provided on the key stems, as illustrated diagrammatically by the oblongsL in Fig. 4, for cooperation with a plurality ofv pairs of xed. contacts 32 and 33. Further, certain of the-contactors may be staggered as shown in the R. F. stage of the short wave key 23. It is believed to be unnecessary to trace the various circuits completed in the several positions of these switches since such circuitsare wellknownintheart.'f l ,v

The motor (Fig. 4) which functions in the same-manner as the tuning knob -to adjust the rotor of `the gang condenser-may-have operating circuits similar to those provided forv the motor [6 in the Manson et al. Patent Ar1't1,926,393 granted September 12, 1933. It will be understood that the solenoids associatedv Wi'ththe eight favorite stations selected-push buttonswill complete circuits similar to those completed-by the movable switch 48 and the fixed contactorsd, 50, 56, etc., of the mentioned patent. i Il f The phonograph key 'l shown in the left hand corner oflig-f4 functions inthe Well known manner, both to complete the operating Acircuit for the turntable motor and to connect the phonoy graph pick up `(not shown) to the audio portion of the radio receiver, likewise not illustrated and also serves at the same time to disconnect the radio portion of the radio phonograph combination. l f

While the-invention is-sh'own'in Fig. 4 for use with a motor-operated tuning system, it will be understood that the arrangement of the present invention is equally well adapted for use in a system wherein the gang tuning condenser is disabled and so called trimmer condensers are substituted to tune the radio receiver to any one of the eight favorite stations in the standard broadcast band as shown in Fig. 5 wherein there is illustrated a portion of the circuits associated with the standard broadcast band selecting push button 2|. From this showing, it will be understood that when this push button key is in its normal position the gang condenser C, C is effective in this network and the trimmer condensers Ca, Cb, Cc, etc. are disabled. However, when this push button key is depressed, the gang condenser is disabled and the trimmer condensers are substituted therefor, so that on the operation of one of the eight solenoids (the contacts controlled by these solenoids only being shown), its associated trimmer condenser will be connected into the tuning circuit network to tune the same to the desired favorite station.

What I claim is:

1. In a radio receiving system, a radio receiver including switches for tuning the same, a bar common to said switches, said bar serving to lock a switch, when operated, in operated position and simultaneously to unlock a previously operated switch, a solenoid having a lengthwise movable core individual to each switch and serving to operate the same, manually operated switches remote from said radio receiver and corresponding to said rst mentioned switches, and circuits completed by said remote switches for selectively actuating any desired solenoid to operate any desired switch at said radio receiver.

2. In a radio receiving system, a radio receiver including keys for tuning the same, a push button for depressing each key, a bar common to said keys, said bar serving to lock a key. when depressed, in operated position and simultaneously to unlock a previously depressed key, a solenoid. having'a. lengthwise movable Acore individual to each key and serving to de- Hcore individual to each of certain of said keys and servinglto depress the same,- means for selectively operating said solenoids, and means on each key effective `when said key is depressed to engagesaid lockingbar means for holding said key in depressedlposition and for releasing a previously depressed key from its depressed position.

'4. In a program reproducing system, a radio receiver and av phonograph including a turntable motor, circuits in said radio receiver for tuning the same to receive desired programs, a source of current for energizing said radio receiver and said phonograph, a series of keys associated with said receiver and said phonograph','one of said keys being effective in its releasedposition to connect said source of current to said radio receiver and to said phonograph and being effective in its depressed condition to disconnect said source of current therefrom, means including another of said keys for controlling the operation of said turntable motor, means including the remainder of said keys for selectively tuning said radio receiver, a locking bar common to said keys, and means on each key effective when said key is depressed to engage said bar for holdingsaid key in depressed position and for releasing a previously depressed key from its depressed position, a solenoid for depressing each key, a second series of keys at a remote point, each key of the second series being individual to a key of the first series, means including circuits selectively controlled by said second series of keys for energizing said solenoids to depress desired keys of said iirst series.

5. In a program reproducing system, a radio receiver and a phonograph including a turntable motor, cir-cuits in said radio receiver for tuning the same to receive desired programs, a source of current for energizing said radio receiver and said phonograph, a series of keys associated with said receiver Yand said phonograph, one of said lkeys being effective in its released position to connect said source of current to said radio receiver and to said phonograph and being effective in its depressed condition to disconnect said source of current therefrom, means including another of said keys for controlling the operation of said turntable motor, means including the remainder of said keys for selectively tuning the circuits of said radio receiver, a locking bar common to said keys, means on each key eective when said key is depressed to engage said bar for holding said key in depressed position and for releasing a previously depressed key from its depressed position, a solenoid individual to each key for depressing the same, a second series of keys at a remote point, each key of the second series being individual to a key of the first series,

means including circuits selectively controlled yby said second series of keys for energizing said solenoids to depress' desired keys of said first series, a second locking bar at said remote point common to said secondseries of keys, and means on each of said remote keys effective when a ,remote key is depressed to lock the same in depressed position and for unlocking a previously depressed remote key, said remote keys in their lockedposition effecting no control over said last-mentioned circuits but merely indicating the 'control operations that have been effected by the depression of said remote keys.

6.In a program receiving system, a radio receiver havingcircuit'portions selectively effective to receive programs in at least two different broadcasting bands, means including a range rkey individual to each band for rendering its circuit portion eiectivasaid range keys being loc'ated in one row, manually operated means for tuning one of said circuit portions, means including a plurality of tuning keys for selectively operating the other circuit portion to tune the same to any one of a plurality of programs, said tuning keys being located in a second row spaced Yfrom said rst row and locking bar means common to all of said keysfor locking a key, when depressed; in its depressed condition and for re leasing a previously depressed key.

Y '1. In a program receiving system, a radio receiver having circuit portions selectively effective to receive programs in at least two different broadcasting bands, means including a range key individual 'tov each bandv for rendering its circuit portion effective, manually operated means for tuning one of said circuit portions, means including a plurality of tuning keys for selectively operating the other circuit portion to tune the same toany one of a plurality of programs, locking bar Vmeans common to all of said keys for locking ajkey, -When depressed, in its Vdepressed condition and for releasing a previously depressed key, a solenoid having a movable core individual to eachtuning key` for depressing ,the same, operating circuits for said solenoids4 extending to a remote point, and means atsaid remote point including a key individual toueach :solenoid for controlling Athe operating circuit la key thereof is depressed to engage said locking bar means `for holding said last-mentioned key in its depressed, condition and for releasing a previously depressed key of said series and. for releasing the pawl of said tone control key.

RAY V'JI-I. MANSON. 

